Coupler mechanism



Aug. 16, 1927.

l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16, 1927.

1,639,301 P. KINNE coUPLER MEcHANIsM Filed Oct.

7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES l V1,639,301 PATENT OFFICE.

y EDMUNI) P. XINNE, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIS,

F CHICAGO, ILLIN/OIS, A CORPORATION 0F yNEW JERSEY.

QOUILER MECHANISM.

BEISSUED Application led October 7,'1926. Serial No. 189,964.

This invention relates to coupler mechanism, and more particularly to means for .operating the coupler from the side of the Edmund P. Kinne, there is disclosed and claimed improved means for operating a coupler lock from locking position to lock ticularly pointed out in t e set position and vto full knuckle throw position. My invention relates to tlxe same general subject matter.

One object of the invention is to improwe the operation of couplers and more particularly thetandard A. R. A. coupler in a manner whereby the coupler can always be operated positively and easily to either lock setl or full knuckle throw positions through the medium of the uncoupling rod.-

Another object isi'to provide simple, liable and eilicient coupler operating mechanism having cooperating parts which function in an improved manner to accomplish the best results under service conditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a standard A. R. A. bottom lift type of coupler` embodying my invention, the lock being shown in locking position; y

Figure`2 is a top plan view ofthe same coupler showing the operating rod and its connections to coupler parts and to the car end structure;

Figure 3 is a rangement shown in Figure 2; and

`Figure 4 is a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Figures\2 and 3. f

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the .following description and drawin and will be para pended claims. Referring to the figures og the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is illustrated-"in connection with a standard A. R. A. type of coupler having a head to which a knuckle 11 is pivoted by a pin 12. As shownin Figure 1, the knuckle 11 is held in closed position by a lock .13 in which position a rear shoulder 14 of the lock rests upon front elevation of vthe ar- -the knuckle opener 15. The lock13 has a depending leg 16, the lower end of which is provided with an inclined slot 17 adapted to slidably receive a transverse linger 18 of a' lifter link 19, the other end of which has a transverse linger 20 received within the outer eye portion 21 of a lifter arm 22. ,The inner end of the lifter arm 22 has a slot 23 for receiving a key portion 24 of a rotary member 25 supported between depending lugs 26 formed on the lower portion of the head 10 just to the rear of the bottom lock hole 27.

.From the arrangement thus far described, it will be appreciated that if the rotary member 25 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, the finger 18 will be moved into the upper end of slot 17 for releasing any engagement between the anticreep members` 27 and 28, whereupon the lock 13 will be raised from the locking position shown in said ligure to lock set position, and uponl -further rotation of said rotary member 25 in the same direction, said lock 13 will be moved into full knuckle throw position as fullydescribed in said Kinne copending application.

One end of the rotary member 25 is provided with an eye portion 29 which receives a hook 30 at the inner end of an operating 4or uncoupling rod 31. Theouter end of the operating rod is slidably supported. in Va guide formed between two guide lugs 32 formed at the upper inner end of a bracket 33 secured to thercar end structure 34 near the outer end of the latter. The outer end of the operating rod 31 terminatesin a handle 35 having an offset portion 36 to the yright thereof, as shown in Figure 4, wherebythere isa tendency for the operating rod normally to rotate in a' clockwise direction Yas viewed in Figure 4, and a counterclockwise\direction as viewed in Figure 1, or in other words, in a direction t9 prevent a release of. the anticreep portions 27 and 28.

The operating ,rod 31 is loosely rmounted between the guide ,lugs 32 for permitting centering of the` coupler`10. Said operat ingarod v31 extends at an angle to theliori- `zontal transverse center of the coupler and extends inja straight. line inwardly for' wardly and downwardly from .the guide portion 32 of the bracket 33 tothe e e portion 29 of the rotary member 25. n this way the operating rod is shorter and lighter than those used heretofore. Being straight from the supporting bracket to the rotary member 25 eliminates the necessity of supporting the operating rod at its inner end by an additional bracket secured to the car end structure. The guide members 32 of the bracket extend in the same angular direction as the operating rod 3l as does the front guide edge of the forwardly extending ange 37 of the bracket 33. rl`he upper part of the handle 35 engages the guide flange 37 and the outer part of the unCoupling rod 31 engages the guideway lformed by the guide lugs 32. A. retaining pin 38 extending between the guide lugs 32 locks the uncoupling rod in position.

By means ot' this arrangement it is a` simple matter to'operate the lock 13 from the Side of the lcar by merely rotating the handle 36 of the uncoupling rod 31 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figure 4.

By means of this mechanism, the objects of the invention are accomplished.

I claim: p

1. In coupler mechanism having a movable lock, the combination of a rotary member for transmitting operating movements to the coupler lock, a bracket, and an operating rod supported by said bracket and extending and connected to said rotary member for rotating the latter for operating the coupler lock, said operating rod having a handle With an olit'set portion tending to prevent a swinging movement of said rod which would release the coupler' anticreep.

2. In combination, a coupler having a head and a lock operable therein, a rotary member for transmitting operating movements to the coupler loc-k, a bracket adapted to be secured to the car end structure and having an inclined guideway and an inclined guide flange, and an operating rod guidedly supported in said inclined guideway portion and having a handle cooperating with said inclined guide flange, said operating rod extending from said bracket in a straight line to said rotary meinber for rotating the latter for operating the coupler lock, said interengaging portions of the 0perating rod and its handle With Said inclined portions facilitating centering movements of said coupler.

Signed at Alliance, Ohio, this 2nd day of October, 1926.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

